ELECRAFT AX1, AXT1, AXB1 Owner's Manual

1

ELECRAFT AX-LINE OWNER’S MANUAL

AX1

DUAL BAND (+)

WHIP ANTENNA

Page 2

AXB1

WHIP BIPOD

Page 5

AXT1

TRIPOD ADAPTER

Page 6

E740330 Rev. B2 , 4 Oct. 2018 Copyright 2018, Elecraft, Inc. All rights reserved

2

Introduction

The Elecraft AX1 is a compact telescoping whip that
disassembles into two 6” (15 cm) pieces, so it’ll fit into small
“grab & go” bags... or your back pocket. A two-position switch
selects 20 m (resonant) or 17/15 m (compatible with a low­loss match via an antenna tuner on both bands).

The AX1 is ideal for pedestrian mobile, “stealth” operation, or
whenever dipoles, verticals, long wires, and other full-size
antennas cannot be erected. It can be used in three ways:

• HT-style (shown here with an Elecraft KX2 all-mode, 80­10 meter transceiver)

• On a table-top with a right-angle BNC adapter and an
AXB1 whip bipod (see page 5)

• Mounted on a tripod or other support using an

AXT1 tripod adapter (see page 6)

FOR BEST RESULTS, USE THE AX1 WITH AN ATU

(automatic antenna tuner). The ATU will handle variations in
terrain, radial length, height, body capacitance, etc.

All Elecraft transceivers have optional wide-range internal
ATUs that are fully compatible with the AX1. An external
ATU such an Elecraft T1 may also be used.

Caution

• The AX1 is not intended for vehicle-mounted use or
for permanent outdoor installations.

• To avoid damage to the telescoping whip, keep it
collapsed when not in use.

• Always use at least one radial (included). This
improves transmit signal radiation by up to 20 dB, and
reduces the risk of getting an RF burn from the mic, key,
or chassis at higher power levels.

NOTE: All BNC plugs have some “play.” It’s normal for the
whip to tilt slightly when attached directly to a transceiver.

3

AX1 Setup

• Thread the whip into the base, then fully extend it.

• Plug the AX1 into your transceiver’s BNC jack for HT-style

operation. For right-angle use with an AXB1, see page 5.
For use with a camera tripod and an AXT1, see page 6.

• Select the 20 or 17 m switch position on the AX1 as
shown at left. Use the 17 m position for 15 m. (An ATU

is always required for 17 and 15 m use.)

• ATTACH AT LEAST ONE COUNTERPOISE WIRE (or
radial) to your transceiver’s ground screw. Otherwise,
your transmit signal will be as much as 20 dB weaker (4 to
5 S-units). A 13’ (3.3 m) insulated wire with a solder lug
at one end is supplied with the AX1. When using a KX2
or KX3, secure the solder lug to the rig at the thumb screw
closest to the antenna jack. (An option for the KX2 is to
use a mini-banana plug, e.g. Elecraft KX2GNDPLUG,
with the quick-release ground jack on the left side panel.)

• Match the antenna to the transceiver using an ATU or with
manual length adjustments as described below.

Using an ATU

The resonant frequency of any short whip can be affected by
many factors. Pedestrian mobile operation complicates the
issue because of changes in terrain and in the location of the
radio relative to the operator. An ATU can compensate,
eliminating tedious whip or radial length adjustments.

To match using an ATU: Tap the ATU tuning switch on the
radio or tuner. If you’re using a K3S / K3 / KX3 / KX2, tapping
the tune switch a second time may result in a better match.

Manual
Adjustment

Non-ATU operation is possible on 20 meters where the AX1
is near resonance.

To adjust antenna length manually: Check the SWR at
both the low and high end of the desired band. If SWR is
higher at the low end of the band, lengthen the radial. If SWR
is higher at the high end of the band, shorten the radial or
reduce the length of the telescoping whip.

NOTE: In cases where it is difficult to achieve a low SWR
(< 3:1), transmitting may still be possible at reduced power.
Elecraft transceivers can be safely used at high SWR.

4

Operating
Tips

• At QRP power levels, CW and certain data modes
(including FT8) will have an advantage over SSB.

• To improve signal strength, elevate the AX1 above ground
by standing or using a tripod. When operating outdoors,
seek high ground, or an area with a downslope in a
preferred direction. Such a slope may act as a reflector.
Indoors, extend the telescoping whip outside a window if
at all possible, and allow the counterpoise wire to hang
outside the window as well. Use a balcony if available.

• When operating pedestrian mobile (/PM), let the
counterpoise wire trail out behind you. As terrain changes,
SWR may fluctuate during transmit. An ATU, if available,
can compensate; tap the ATU tune button if SWR is high.

• Try operating during contests when there’s lots of activity
(most weekends). Contest stations often have high-gain
antennas, benefitting both ends of a QSO.

• Rather than call CQ, try answering strong stations who
are calling CQ or just completing a contact. A strong
signal is often an indication that propagation is excellent in
that direction.

• Tune slowly, especially when listening for weak signals.
As an example, SOTA (Summits On The Air) portable
stations can often be found between 14058 and 14063
kHz, but they may be very weak.

QRP operation with a short whip can be both rewarding
and challenging.

For times when conditions are poor, we recommend also
carrying a lightweight wire antenna. A simple random-length
antenna can be made from two 25’ (7.5 m) lengths of #26
“Silky” (thewireman.com). Toss one wire into a tree and lay
the other on the ground, or into a second tree. Attach the
wires to the transceiver via a BNC-to-binding post adapter,
such as our model BNC-BP. Elecraft ATUs will usually match
this efficient antenna on 40 through 10 m.

5

AXB1
Whip Bipod

NOTE: The legs of
the AXB1 may not be
in electrical contact
with the whip’s BNC
connector, so they
should not be used
as a radial wire
attachment point.

A whip antenna used with a right-angle BNC may tip over
due to wind load. To stabilize a whip in light to moderate
winds, an AXB1 bipod can be used as described below.

To use the AXB1:

• Attach a right-angle BNC adapter (Elecraft

BNC-RA or equivalent) to the antenna.

• Snap the AXB1’s plastic clip firmly onto the
knurled part of the AX1’s BNC connector as
shown by the upper arrow at left.

Caution: To detach the plastic clip from the
antenna, do not snap it back off, as this can
stress the connector. Instead, slide the
connector back through the clip by pushing
firmly on the BNC adapter where indicated by

the lower arrow.

• Adjust AXB1 leg angle and height as needed.

• In strong winds, orient the rig so the antenna

is facing into the wind, or strap the AXB1 to
the surface. Holes are provided in the legs.

• Firmly tighten the AXB1’s thumb screw.

• For storage or transport, fold the legs of

the AXB1 together. An AX1, AXB1 and KX2
will all fit in an Elecraft CS40 or ES40 bag.

6

AXT1
Tripod
Adapter

Elevating a whip antenna using a tripod may improve
effectiveness on both transmit and receive. An AXT1
adapter will work with most camera tripods having a 1/4-20
threaded mount. Any lightweight whip with a BNC connector
may be used.

To use the AXT1:

• Secure the AXT1 to the tripod’s threaded mount as
shown below.

• Attach the AX1 (or other BNC-base whip) to one of the
adapter’s BNC connectors.

• Attach a length of 50-ohm coax to the adapter’s other
BNC connector. Use a short, high-quality cable to
minimize loss. An ATU or manual antenna length
adjustments may be required (see page 3).

• Attach at least one counterpoise wire to either the
transceiver, as described on page 3, or directly to the
AXT1’s aluminum bracket. Holes are provided for this
purpose. (Transmit efficiency may be improved by using
two or more counterpoise wires. See page 7.)

• Bracket holes can also be used for guying, or with other
attachment hardware (user-supplied).

(Tripod not included.)

7

Counterpoise
Wires

The counterpoise (or radial) wire supplied with the AX1 is
usable on all three covered bands (20, 17, and 15 meters).
The two inductors in the base unit have been adjusted to
provide resonance close to the 20 meter band with this radial
length. Adding more radials may yield improved results on
one or more bands.

During pedestrian-mobile operation, a single “dragged
counterpoise” wire is typically used to minimize the risk of
snagging or other hazards. Optimal length for a dragged
counterpoise varies with many factors, but the length most
often used is: L (ft) = 185 / F, or L (m) = 56 / F (F in MHz).

A good starting point for elevated radials (e.g., using the AX1
with a tall tripod or mast) is a full quarter wavelength:
L (ft) = 234 / F, or L (m) = 71.3 / F.

Radial length adjustments to achieve resonance can be
tedious. An antenna analyzer is recommended.

AX1
Specifications

Resonant
Frequencies

Supplied
Radial Wire

Max. Power

Construction

Dimensions

Weight

20 m (~14 MHz) and 17/15 m (~19
MHz). Resonant frequencies may vary

+/- 300 kHz or more due to variations in
terrain, antenna height, body
capacitance, and length of radial(s).

13 feet (3.3 m) long. Wire has pre­installed lug for transceiver attachment.

30 Watts. If RFI symptoms are observed,

reduce power or move antenna farther
from the transceiver.

Corrosion-resistant whip and hardware;
Lexan outer tube; high-Q inductors using
#20 AWG high-temp enamel wire.

Whip: 6” (15 cm) collapsed, 45” (115 cm)
extended. Base: 6” (15 cm) x 0.75” (19
mm) dia.

3.8 oz. (107 g) including supplied

counterpoise wire.

8

Customer Service and Support

Technical Assistance

You can send e-mail to [e-mail] and we will respond quickly – typically the same day
Monday through Friday. If you need replacement parts, send an e-mail to [e-mail].
Telephone assistance is available from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Pacific time (weekdays only) at 831-763-4211.
Please use e-mail rather than calling when possible since this gives us a written record of the details of
your problem and allows us to handle a larger number of requests each day.

Repair / Alignment Service

If necessary, you may return your Elecraft product to us for repair or alignment. (Note: We offer email
and phone support, so please try that route first as we can usually help you find the problem quickly.)
IMPORTANT: You must contact Elecraft before mailing your product to obtain authorization for the
return, what address to ship it to and current information on repair fees and turnaround times.
(Frequently we can determine the cause of your problem and save you the trouble of shipping it back to
us.) Our repair location is different from our factory location. We will give you the address to ship your
kit to at the time of repair authorization. Packages shipped without authorization will incur an additional

shipping charge for reshipment to our repair depot.

Elecraft 1-Year Limited Warranty

This warranty is effective as of the date of first consumer purchase (or if shipped from the factory,
the date the product is shipped to the customer). It covers both our kits and fully assembled products.
For kits, before requesting warranty service, you should fully complete the assembly, carefully
following all instructions in the manual.

Who is covered: This warranty covers the original owner of the Elecraft product as disclosed to
Elecraft at the time of order. Elecraft products transferred by the purchaser to a third party, either by
sale, gift, or other method, who is not disclosed to Elecraft at the time of original order, are not
covered by this warranty. If the Elecraft product is being bought indirectly for a third party, the third
party’s name and address must be provided at time of order to ensure warranty coverage.

What is covered: During the first year after date of purchase, Elecraft will replace defective or
missing parts free of charge (post-paid). We will also correct any malfunction to kits or assembled
units caused by defective parts and materials. Purchaser pays inbound shipping to us for warranty
repair; we pay shipping to return the repaired equipment to you by UPS ground service or equivalent
to the continental USA and Canada. For Alaska, Hawaii, and other destinations outside the U.S.
and Canada, actual return shipping cost is paid by the owner.

What is not covered: This warranty does not cover correction of kit assembly errors. It also does
not cover misalignment; repair of damage caused by misuse, negligence, or builder modifications;
or any performance malfunctions involving non-Elecraft accessory equipment. The use of acid-core
solder, water-soluble flux solder, or any corrosive or conductive flux or solvent will void this warranty
in its entirety. Also not covered is reimbursement for loss of use, inconvenience, customer assembly
or alignment time, or cost of unauthorized service.

Limitation of incidental or consequential damages: This warranty does not extend to non­Elecraft equipment or components used in conjunction with our products. Any such repair or
replacement is the customer. Elecraft will not be liable for any special indirect, incidental or
consequential damages, including but not limited to any loss of business or profits.